About the Library

About Us

The BMCC College Library, located in S410 on the fourth floor at 199 Chambers Street, is named after the African-American labor leader and social activist A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979). Open seven days a week, it offers its users over 125,000 volumes of books, 250 print magazine/journal subscriptions, 73,000 electronic journals, magazines, and newspapers, 190,000 electronic books, and over 20,000 reels of microfilm.

The Library is divided into the Main Library and the Quiet Study Area (S430), providing seating for approximately 600 students at individual carrels and tables. In addition to the 60 Internet stations on the open floor, there are three main service points in the Main Library: Circulation, Reference and Periodicals. The Library is entirely Wi-Fi enabled. An active information literacy program is conducted in a state-of-the-art SMART classroom.

The Library has a staff of 14 full-time and 10 part-time librarians and professional staff to serve the academic and research needs of BMCC students and faculty.

Mission of the BMCC Library

The A. Philip Randolph Library's mission is to provide resources and services that support the learning, teaching, and research needs of the College community. To fulfill this mission, the Library commits to the following:

To participate in the mission of Borough of Manhattan Community College, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date library by acquiring materials and offering services that support the educational goals of the college.

To make both print and electronic information resources readily available by cataloging, organizing, and customizing library collections.

To provide instruction and assistance in the use of print and online resources and teach research strategies that are essential for information literacy.

To provide an environment that encourages and stimulates study and research.

To enhance information access and learning with technological innovations.

To create positive, meaningful user experiences that build a foundation for lifelong learning.